17 councillors named suspects

YOGYAKARTA: Yogyakarta prosecutors named on Friday 17 former city councillors as suspects in a corruption case. They will now be tried for receiving Rp 17 million (US$7,978) each in severance pay.

The severance pay was deemed illegal as there was no provision for it under the law.

Deputy chief of Yogyakarta Prosecutor's Office Godang Riyadi Siregar said on Friday that the prosecutor's office would summon the suspects soon for more interrogations.

Separately, one of the councillors, Nazaruddin complained that he was unfairly singled out.

"All the councillors in Yogyakarta province have received the severance pay, but why do the prosecutors only name us suspects?" he wondered. -- JP